Compact disk case with stackable sleeves

ABSTRACT

The compact disk carrying case includes, in one embodiment, an outer enclosure which is defined by two clam-shell members. Each clam-shell member has an interfacing edge which mates with the corresponding interfacing edge on the other clam-shell member. A mechanism is provided, such as a zipper, for closing the interfacing edges thereby forming a closeable outer enclosure within which is captured a plurality of compact disks. The clam-shell members are hinged together along a portion of each respective interfacing edge. The carrying case includes a plurality of compact disk carrying plates which are grouped together into n end pairs of plates by n hinges. Each hinge has a progressively increasing span distance between the respective connected plates. Accordingly, these hinges establish minimum, a plurality of intermediate and a maximum span distance between the respective connected plates. In use, the maximum span CD carrying plate hinge is disposed proximate the clam-shell member hinge, the plurality of intermediate span plate hinges are disposed progressively next to the maximum span plate hinge and the minimum span plate hinge is disposed in an interior region of the compact disk carrying case such that it is adapted to be closed on itself such that its respective connected plates are proximately facing each other when the CD carrying case is closed.

The present invention relates to a compact disk case with stackablesleeves carried in a clam-shell configured outer enclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Compact disks or CDs carry audio and computer data. These disks aregenerally circular, about 4-6 inches in diameter and are very thinplates or platters. Commonly, CDs are made of a plastic type material.Although many CDs are sold in rectangular flat boxes, these boxes aredifficult to transport. Accordingly, various types of carrying caseshave been developed to hold the circular CD platters.

Some of these CD carrying cases utilize a generally circular plate madeof cardboard or other semi-rigid material which is covered by felt orother type of smooth fiber cloth. Commonly, the CDs are inserted intopockets which are formed between the circular plate (covered by thecloth) and a semi circular piece of cloth sewn to a portion of theplate.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact diskcarrying case with stackable sleeves.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a carrying caseformed by two clam-shell members which close upon each other and capturepairs of disk carrying plates in its interior.

It is another object of the present invention to group these diskcarrying plates into pairs wherein each pair is attached by a hinge andeach hinge has a progressively increasing span distance between therespective, connected plates.

It is an additional object of the present invention to dispose the pairof disk carrying plates having a maximum span plate hinge near theclam-shell member hinge, to dispose intermediate span plate hinges atopthe maximum span hinge and to dispose a minimum span plate hinge in acentral location such that the hinge is adapted to be closed on itselfsuch that its respective connected plates are proximately facing eachother when both clam-shell members are closed thereby defining a closedcompact disk case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The compact disk carrying case includes, in one embodiment, an outerenclosure which is defined by two clam-shell members. Each clam-shellmember has an interfacing edge which mates with the correspondinginterfacing edge on the other clam-shell member. A mechanism isprovided, such as a zipper, for closing the interfacing edges therebyforming a closeable outer enclosure within which is captured a pluralityof compact disks. The clam-shell members are hinged together along aportion of each respective interfacing edge. The carrying case includesa plurality of compact disk carrying plates which are grouped togetherinto n pairs of plates by n hinges. Each hinge has a progressivelyincreasing span distance between the respective connected plates.Accordingly, these hinges establish minimum, a plurality of intermediateand a maximum span distance between the respective connected plates. Inuse, the maximum span CD carrying plate hinge is disposed proximate theclam-shell member hinge, the plurality of intermediate span plate hingesare disposed progressively next to the maximum span plate hinge and theminimum span plate hinge is disposed in an interior region of thecompact disk carrying case such that it is adapted to be closed onitself such that its respective connected plates are proximately facingeach other when the CD carrying case is closed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects and advantages of the present invention can be found inthe detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates the compact disk carrying case in anopen position or mode wherein the two clam-shell members fully exposethe compact disk carrying plates;

FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates a partial view of the CD carryingcase with the overlay locking member open;

FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates a partial, broken away view of theCD carrying case showing the plate hinges having different spandistances;

FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates a detailed view of the plate hingesand the clam-shell member hinge with the overlay locking member;

FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates a partial view of a plurality ofcompact disk carrying plates showing the plate hinges havingprogressively increasing span distances;

FIG. 6 diagrammatically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portionof the compact disk carrying case wherein the clam-shell members areclosed and showing the positioning of the maximum, intermediate andminimum span plate hinges when the outer enclosure, defined by the twoclam-shell members, fully encapsulates the CDs; and

FIG. 7 diagrammatically illustrates the compact disk carrying case whenthe clam-shell members are partially closed and the interface edges arelinked together and further shows the CD carrying case adapted to beinserted on a visor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a compact disk or CD carrying case withstackable sleeves.

FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates compact disk carrying case 10 formedby two clamshell members 12, 14. In FIG. 1, clam-shell members 12, 14are fully open thereby exposing interior spaces 16, 18 of carrying case10. In FIG. 7, clam-shell members 12, 14 are fit atop each other so thatinterfacing edges 20, 22 are adjacent each other. In the closed positionor mode, interior spaces 16, 18 defined by clam-shell members 12, 14combine to form an interior carrying space defined by the outerenclosure. This outer enclosure is defined by the two clamshell members12, 14.

Clam-shell members 12, 14 each include an interfacing edge 20, 22. Theseinterfacing edges are linked or closed together by an appropriatemechanism. In the illustrated embodiment, the means for closing includestwo zippers 23, 25. However, a single zipper may be utilized. Inaddition, other types of closing mechanism can be utilized as shown inTable 1.

TABLE 1

Zippers

Hook and Loop (VELCRO)

Ties

Snaps

Hook and eye

Buttons

In a working embodiment, the compact disk carrying case is made out ofnylon and zipper tracks 27, 29 are sewn into the nylon casing asillustrated herein by seam 19 for clam-shell member 12.

Each clam-shell member holds a plurality of disk carrying plates(discussed later in connection with FIG. 3). FIG. 1 shows disk carryingplate 30 attached via plate hinge 31 to disk carrying plate 32. In apreferred embodiment, disk carrying plate 30 includes a semi-rigidsupport plate 33, preferably made of cardboard. A soft cloth covering 35covers cardboard plate 33. Cloth covering 35 is sewn together with thecloth covering on the back side of the plate along seam 37.

In order to carry a compact disk, the CD carrying plate 30 also includesa pouch 36 defined by a generally semi-circular cloth unit formed byoverlapping cloth piece 39. Cloth piece 39 forming pouch 36 is sewn tothe other components of the carrying plate 30 along seam 37. Disks areinserted into pouch 36 as shown by arrow A and the disks are captured atleast partially in space 40. As discussed later in conjunction with FIG.3, each disk carrying plate includes both a frontside pouch 36 and abackside pouch (see FIG. 3) such that each plate carries two CDs.

The disk carrying plates are grouped together in pairs and each pair isconnected by a hinge, one of which is hinge 31 connecting CD carryingplates 30, 32. Although only six disk carrying plates are illustratedherein (FIG. 3), it should be noted that the CD carrying case cancontain a large number of CD carrying plates, in excess of six,dependent upon the height 41 (FIG. 3) of each clam-shell member. Herein,the present invention is discussed in conjunction with six disk carryingplates because it is difficult to illustrate a significantly largenumber of plates. However, the invention is not limited to such a smallcarrying case.

In order to secure each pair of disk carrying plates 30, 32 withinclam-shell members 12, 14, an overlay locking member 50 is utilized toremovably attachment the plate hinges to the carrying case. In theworking embodiment, overlay locking member 50 is configured by twostrips of attachable cloth carrying hook and loop attachment mechanisms.Accordingly, strip 52 carries, for example, a plurality of hooks andstrip 54 carries, for example, a plurality of loops. The hook and loopattachment mechanism is sometimes sold under the trademark VELCRO. Otheroverlay locking members may be utilized. Table 2 that follows describessome of these locking members.

TABLE 2

Hook and Loop bearing cloth strips (VELCRO)

Ties

Snap

Hook and eye

Button

FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates overlay locking member 50 being opensuch that locking member 52 is disposed apart from locking member 54. Inthis manner, plate hinge 31 and the attached respective CD carryingplates can be withdrawn from the outer enclosure defined by clam-shellnumbers 12, 14. Since the disk carrying plates can be removed from theenclosure, this enables the user to remove one or more pairs of CDcarrying plates and hence the CDs, without removing the entire carryingcase. This feature facilitates loading and further distribution of theCD carrying case and CD carrying plate units.

FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates a cross-sectional view of six CDcarrying plates stored in clam-shell members 12, 14. CD carrying plates30, 51, 53 are disposed in clam-shell member 12 and CD carrying plates32, 54 and 56 are disposed in clam-shell member 14. Carrying plates 30,32 are joined together via plate hinge 31, plates 51, 54 are joinedtogether via hinge 61 and plates 53, 56 are joined together via hinge63. As shown in the partial, broken away view on the right hand side ofFIG. 3, CD carrying plates 30, 51 and 53 each include frontside pouches36 and 62 and backside pouches, two of which are identified as backsidepouches 64 and 66. Accordingly, each CD carrying plate 36, 51, 53, 32,54 and 56, can carry two CDs, one CD in the front pouch and the secondCD in the back pouch. Accordingly, although six CD carrying plates areshown in FIG. 3, the carrying case can accommodate up to twelve CDs. Asstated earlier, the CD carrying case can accommodate many more than sixCD carrying plates dependent upon height 41 of each clam-shell member12, 14.

Clam-shell member 12 includes side wall 70. Side wall 70 of clam-shellmember 12 is attached at a hinge region 72 to side wall member 74 ofclam-shell member 14. Stated another way, the local region ofinterfacing edge 20 of clam-shell member 14 is attached via a clam-shellhinge 72 to interface edge 22 of clam-shell member 14.

CD carrying plate hinges 31, 61 and 63 have progressively decreasingspan distances between the respective connected plates 30, 32 and 51, 54and 53, 56.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of clam-shell hinge 72 and plate hinges 31, 61and 63. In addition, overlay locking member 50 is shown in an open mode.

FIG. 5 diagrammatically shows the progressively increasing span distancemaintained by plate hinges 63, 61 and 31 for the respective connectedplates 53, 56 and 51, 54 and 30, 32. These progressively increasing spandistances provided by plate hinges 63, 61 and 31, enable the clam-shellmembers to be closed onto each other and provide for true verticalstacking of the CD carrying plates.

FIG. 6 diagrammatically shows the vertical stacking of the CD carryingplates wherein plate 56 is stacked atop plate 54, plate 32, plate 30,plate 51 and plate 53. The largest or maximum plate hinge 63 links upperand lower CD carrying plates 56, 53. The intermediate hinge 61 providesvertical stackable placement of CD carrying plates 54, 51. Minimum spanplate hinge 31 enables that hinge to be closed onto itself such that therespective connected CD carrying plates 30, 32 are proximately facingeach other. Overlay locking member 50 captures all of the plate hingessuch that the CD carrying plates do not fall out of the enclosure whenthe clam-shell members 14, 12 are opened. In this illustration,clam-shell hinge 72 is fully open or in a planar position. In FIG. 3,clam-shell hinge 72 is in a closed position when clam-shell member 12 isdisposed in the same horizontal plane as clam-shell member 14.

By providing a plurality of plate hinges having different spans, the CDcarrying plates can be vertically stacked atop each other. If the platehinges have the same span, the CD carrying plates would not be stackedvertically atop each other but would be staggered because of thegeometric distance between interface edge 12 and the top CD carryingplate 30 as compared with the distance between interface edge 12 and thebottom CD carrying plate 53.

FIG. 7 diagrammatically illustrates carrying case 10 wherein zipper 23has partially closed interfacing edges 20, 22. In FIG. 7 clam-shellhinge 72 is fully open. In order to enable the user to easily carry theCD carrying case, a loop strap 101 is provided near one side ofclam-shell hinge 72. Since the CD carrying case is designed fortransportation of CDs in an automobile, the case also includes a strap103, made of elastic material, that spans the diameter of carrying case10. In one embodiment CD carrying plates are circular and the clam-shellmembers are circular. Strap 103 can be lifted from exposed surface 110of clam-shell member 14 such that case 10 can be slid onto or mountedonto visor 112. Case 10 is mounted on visor 112 by moving the case inthe direction shown by arrows 114 and 115 and interposing visor 112between strap 103 and exposed surface 110 of clam-shell member 14.

The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications and changeswithin the scope and spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A carrying case for compact disks comprising:anouter enclosure defined by two clam-shell members, each clam-shellmember having an interfacing edge which mates with a correspondinginterfacing edge on the other clam-shell member and means for closingsaid interfacing edges together when said clam-shell members are closedto form said outer enclosure, said clam-shell members hinged togetheralong a portion of said respective interfacing edges; a plurality ofcompact disk carrying plates grouped into n pairs of plates by n hinges;each of n hinges which connect a respective pair of said plates togetherestablishing a progressively increasing span distance between saidrespective connected plates and defining minimum, intermediate andmaximum spans between said respective connected plates; a maximum spanplate hinge disposed proximate the clam-shell member hinge, a minimumspan plate hinge adapted to be closed on itself such that its respectiveconnected plates are proximally facing and intermediate span platehinges disposed intermediate said maximum and minimum span plate hingeswhen said disk carrying plates are disposed in said outer enclosure; andan overlay locking member disposed at said clam-shell hinge and adaptedto be overlaid atop said n hinges when said plates are disposed in saidclam-shell members.
 2. A carrying case as claimed in claim 1 whereineach said disk carrying plate includes a front side and a back sidepouch which is adapted to capture a compact disk therein.
 3. A carryingcase as claimed in claim 2 wherein a base section of said front side andsaid backside pouch is disposed near the respective plate hinge.
 4. Acarrying case as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for closing is azipper.
 5. A carrying case as claimed in claim 1 including a strap on anouter surface of one of said clam-shell members, said strap adapted toencircle a visor.
 6. A carrying case as claimed in claim 1 wherein eachof said clam-shell members is substantially circular in shape and saidplates are substantially circular in shape.
 7. A carrying case asclaimed in claim 6 wherein said means for closing is a zipper.
 8. Acarrying case as claimed in claim 7 including a strap on an outersurface of one of said clam-shell members, said strap adapted toencircle a visor.
 9. A carrying case as claimed in claim 8 wherein eachof said clam-shell members is substantially circular in shape and saidplates are substantially circular in shape.